Manasquan seeks funds for Mallard Park floods

MANASQUAN – In an effort to alleviate flooding at Mallard Park the borough will apply for $195,000 in Monmouth County Open Space funds to regrade the park and add additional improvements.

“The idea here is to prevent more degrading of the field from regular flooding and also help the area residents by grading the field away from the homes,” Council President Michael Mangan said.

Borough Engineer James Priolo said if the county approves the money the town then must match the grant by providing the remaining 50 percent of the funding for the project. He said the borough could seek additional funding through Community Development Block Grants if the project proceeds.

Mallard Park is roughly a five acre park with basketball and volleyball courts, baseball diamonds, children’s playgrounds, picnic tables and park benches. It is the site of borough’s Annual Fireman’s Fair.

The park borders the Glimmer Glass, a navigable tidal inlet of the Manasquan River. Council members said water run-off from the park to the streets adjacent to the park is becoming more and more problematic.

“Perrine (Boulevard) is like a waste land. It just floods,” said Councilman Michael Sinneck.

The project’s conceptual design features a new baseball field backstop, fencing, aluminum bleachers and rehabilitation of the clay infield and a regrading of the total 7,000 square yard field. A new softball field would also be constructed.

Crosswalks are designed for the street intersections surrounding the park.